In February 2015, you may hold an African American Read-In event any day of the month

Saturday, February 1-Friday, February 28, 2015

Schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting and coordinating Read-Ins in their communities. Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as bringing together friends to share a book, or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers.

The Read-In has been endorsed by the International Reading Association. Over a million readers of all ethnic groups from the United States, the West Indies, African countries, and more have participated. The goal is to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities.

Hosting a Read-In can be as simple as gathering with family and friends to share books, or as elaborate as arranging large audiences to hear professional writers and readers. Read-In Coordinators may serve as hosts, but they also invite others to host Read-Ins.

African American Read-In Packet

You can print the PDF version of the African American Read-In packet by clicking the link below. The African American Read-In packet includes a News Release, Host Invitation, and information on how to submit the Report Card.

Also, if you have read a good book that was authored by an African American and it's not listed on one of the book lists, send the title, author, publisher, and age level (if known) to aari@ncte.org.

History

At it's November 1989 meeting, the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English accepted the Issues Committee's recommendation that the Black Caucus sponsor a nation-wide Read-In on the first Sunday of February. At the request of educators, Monday was designated for educational institutions. Jerrie Cobb Scott, an active member of NCTE and the Black Caucus, brought the idea to the Committee. It was envisioned that following a decade of rigourous campaigning for participants, the African American Read-Ins would become a traditional part of Black History Month celebrations. The commitment for nation-wide promotion extends from 1990 to the year 2000.

Persons receiving Read-In packets share the information with others, thereby creating a "chain" of readers whose numbers would grow to well over a million by the year 2000. In 1990, the National Council of Teachers of English joined in the sponsorship of the African American Read-In Chain. The campaign has also been endored and supported by the International Reading Association.